Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, characterized by painful motion and limited range of motion at the shoulder level, warrants a 20 percent initial rating under Diagnostic Code 5201.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral foot and shoulder disabilities were denied as the evidence did not establish a link between his current conditions and active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral foot degenerative arthritis is related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The issue of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected low back strain and degenerative arthritis of the spine are currently evaluated at 40 percent, but his intervertebral disc syndrome does not result in incapacitating episodes. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records from the Veteran's December 2014 surgery and considering a temporary total evaluation based on surgical or other treatment. The claim will be readjudicated with consideration of Diagnostic Code 5055 by analogy.

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence of a skin condition (tinea pedis) or any other foot disability, including bilateral pes planus and degenerative arthritis. The Veteran's preexisting mild pes planus did not increase in severity during service, and the arthritis found at the time of the August 2014 VA examination is considered to be a natural progression of the preexisting pes planus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current thoracolumbar spine disorder is not related to service and therefore denied his claim for service connection. The TDIU issue remains pending.

The case is being remanded for additional development to address the service connection of the Veteran's low back disability, including spina bifida occulta, degenerative arthritis, and spondylolysis.

The Veteran has withdrawn all issues on appeal, including the reopening of a claim for osteoarthritis of the bilateral knees and claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, major joints, and lumbar spine.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to an inadequate VA examination in January 2012, specifically regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral hip disabilities were caused or aggravated by his service-connected pes planus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability, diagnosed as degenerative osteoarthritis with associated degenerative meniscal tear of the right knee with parameniscal cyst formation and degenerative osteoarthritis of the left knee, medial compartment with associated varus, was incurred in active service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the receipt of new evidence, which requires a VA examination. The issues will be reconsidered after the examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right hip disability, including as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine and sciatic nerve paralysis disabilities, is being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the left knee is found to be etiologically related to service, and therefore service connection is granted.

The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's bilateral hand degenerative arthritis is related to his service-connected shoulder or upper back disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for hypertension, lumbosacral strain, right knee degenerative joint disease, and left knee osteoarthritis. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating higher than 40 percent for hypertension prior to September 26, 2008 or for a rating higher than 10 percent for either knee disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining a VA examination and locating any outstanding private treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a right hip disability that is etiologically related to his military service. The claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a present disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disorder is not related to his active duty service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, right leg disability (including as secondary to right knee and ankle osteoarthritis), and respiratory disorder. The decision also found that the current ratings for right knee and ankle osteoarthritis were appropriate.